Implementation of IPS within the psychosis care

According to the 26th paragraph of the UN:s convention on the right of persons with disabilities, access to a sustainable work is a right. However, for people with severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, this access is not secured. One intervention within vocational rehabilitation, structured to enhance transition into work for persons with severe mental illnesses, is Individual Placement and Support (IPS). It is an evidence-based version of Supported Employment. IPS has proven to be more effective, for vocational rehabilitation of persons with schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorders, in comparison with other programmes, both within and outside of Sweden.

Despite the fact that IPS is evidence based and recommended by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, implementation within Sweden has proven to be hard. Further, there is little knowledge on the implementation. The project aims to overcome this knowledge gap by investigating the implementation of IPS in the Swedish welfare state. A case study of IPS implementation, based on collaboration between a psychiatric care unit and two Non-Governmental Organisations, is studied.

The project consists of two work packages. The first work package is quantitative and longitudinal, and relies on repeated surveys to study working condition, health, and support for programme participants. The second work package is qualitative and utilises interviews with programme participants and front-line staff to investigate the implementation of IPS. The desired outcome of the project is to generate knowledge valuable to improve the implementation of evidence-based methods in vocational rehabilitation for persons with schizophrenia and/or schizophrenia spectrum disorders, which in turn can contribute to increased labour market participation and sustainable working-life for the target group.